Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-01-01
| sank down in the bottom of the

II must come. "A uull stuDOr creDt
over me, and the agony OF fear which
held me before was gone. Was it my
disordered Imagination which made me
think something had happened which
sounds perfectly incredible? Ii was
getting too dark to distinguish plainly,
but, sure. that was Edam Cars biz
form | saw at the other end of the boat
STOPPING over IA coil of rope. Then
who was the man busted with the sail
in the center of ftp We were shut of
from all human help there in the midst
Of a bowling tempest, and yet some
one had managed to come on board,
and evidently to give lis his assistance.
No other vessel could possibly have APP
preached us while my eyes were shut,
certainly not without my hearing it.
Where, then, had this stranger come
fromP All these thoughts flashed
through my mind, but at the time / was
90 stHpefied to wonder much. My
faculties seemed dulled, and | could
neither suffer nor fear any more. |
simply waited for the end. | could see
dimly the sharp ridge of rocks we we're
nearing, and from which nothing short
of a miracle now could keep us. But
this miracle did take place. All at
once our course changed and the boat
turned from its dangerous way. Then,
and not till then, did Edam seem to
awaken to the knowledge that he was
no longer managing affairs. With a
sudden oath he started up and crept
forward.
When he got to the Gsurc standing
with its back toward him, | saw him
raise his arm to thrust it aside. Tker
slowly, slowly it turned and looked
him straight in tho face.
He cried out wildly: God help me.
for I'm mad now, anyway" and, throw
ing up his arms, he leaped overheard
into the seething wayes
watched him strike ont when be
rose, but | was too paralyzed to scream,
even. He had not a chance in that
terrible sea, but was thrown like u bit
of floating weed upon the very rocks
he had been steering for, clung there II
moment, only to be swept back by the
return of the waves. | saw this in the
last lurid streak of light which flashed
across the water before the night came,
and in it were shown at last the features
Of my strange companion. Was it all
Il dreamp 1 did not know even then,
nor did | feel afraid, but as those eyes
met mine a thrill ran through me. and
/ sank into Inconsistencies. Late
that night, when some of the men went
down to see that their boats were
secure, they found Edam Carr's new
boat safely drawn up on the beach and
me lying in it in 3 dead faint.
After that came Il time Of dull, stupid
misery to me. / could never answer
questions, nor give any account of that
dreadful evening, save that Edam Carr
had gone mad and jumped overheard,
and had been dashed against the Ribs
of Death" and that / tainted when
this happened and knew no more.
But, then, how had the boat been
brought into port they asked.
My story vas proved true by poor
Edam's body being washed ashore two
days after. For long the people looked
at me strangely. Their superstition
made them regard me now as an '.un-
canny" and shun me AS something they
could not account for. Besides, in
stead Of the sea claiming its victim. 10
they expected it to do, | had been
miraculously saved from it! | often
wonder did not go mad myself dur
ing that dreary time. For / settled in
my Owl mind clearly enough how it
was. | should never see my bonnie
sweetheart more. | had not q doubt
that he was dead, and that my cry for
help had brought him in the spirit to
my assistance. For awhile ! nursed
my sullen grief in silence; but at last
Miss Ashford's kindness broke down
the barrier, and | told her everything.
Only for that. and because she did not
laugh ut me, but believed that | spoke
the truth, | should have lost my senses
or my life, for the secret was killing
me.
Truly there are strange mysteries
we cannot hope to be revealed in this
life" she said solemnly. '%.'lIast thou.
which art but air, n touch of feeling OF
their atllictions?' would try not to
think too much about il, Elsie; and
don't give way to despair, above all.
Think how the little ones need YOU"
1t was al very wei! to talk. ard
did try honestly; but | couldn't help
thinking of my boy during the long
dreary winter nights, after the children
had gone to bed, and | was left alone
by the glimmering freight. Then the
tears would come, and, oh! it felt so
lonely and life so sad wanting
him. Twas sitting thus one night.
leaning my cheek upon my hand, and
the stocking | was knitting for one of
the BARNS had fallen upon the floor,
while | gazed into the dying embers.
How long | sat | know not, but sud-
denly the Goals fell together and nared
up into a blaze, and there. on the other
side of the hearth stood Willie, my
Willie. laughing down at me. |
screamed and covered up my eyes. |
dared not look at what seemed con-
firmation Of my wors fears; but in a
moment, warm, living arms were
around my neck and | was clasped to
Il strong beating heart.
N